Porto vs Juventus: A clash between champions awaits
Reigning champions Porto will face another reigning champion when Juventus arrive in Portugal for their Champions League tie.
The Dragons have seen their title defense go up in smoke following three consecutive draws in the Primeira Liga, including having to fight back to secure a point against relegation-threatened Boavista. As a result, Sergio Conceicao’s side now sit ten points behind Sporting Lisbon, and while they are not entirely out of the race, it’s looking highly unlikely they will be able to get their foot back in the door. Despite their domestic woes, Porto have done well in their Champions League campaign so far, and haven’t conceded a goal in over 460 minutes.
The hosts finished their group stage campaign as runners-up behind Manchester City and will come into this game unbeaten in their last five ties. In addition, they’re in the Champions League for the 24th time – a number only topped by none other than La Liga duo Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their record against Italian sides at home is also quite strong – with just one loss in their last nine. However, that defeat came at the hands of Juventus in 2017, who have never lost to Porto in European competition with four wins and a draw so far.
Juventus, for their part, have also endured frustration in their league campaign. Andrea Pirlo’s men come into this match having lost 1-0 to Napoli last weekend. Although Juventus have lost just three times this season, two of those losses have come in their last five, including a shocking 3-0 reversal to Fiorentina last year. Coupled with draws against minnows like Hellas Verona, Benevento, and Crotone, the Bianconeri have slipped eight points behind current league leaders Inter. And although they do have a game in hand, it still may not be enough to help Juventus successfully make it an unprecedented 10th straight Scudetto at the end of this season.
To that end, Juventus still do have two trophies within grasp: the Coppa Italia and the Champions League. Pirlo has already won his first piece of silverware of his nascent career as Juve beat Napoli 2-0 in the Supercoppa Italiana last month. The Bianconeri have also done well so far in this competition, with five wins from their six group stage games, and have a formidable record when it comes to taking on Portuguese sides.
In addition to winning five of their last six away games, Juventus, as noted before, have never lost to Porto so far. However, this is a very different Juventus side than the team in 2017 that reached the Champions League final under Massimiliano Allegri, and could represent a great opportunity for Porto to end their frustrating hoodoo against a very familiar opponent.
